Wellington, April 7 NZPA - A scholarship set up in memory of Zachary Gravatt, the Auckland medical student who died last year from meningococcal C complications, has been awarded to its first recipient.

Auckland medical student Tim Hopgood was granted the Zachary Gravatt Memorial Scholarship to help him work and undertake research in paediatric medicine and Pacific Islands health, New Zealand Doctor magazine said.

The $5000 scholarship was established to honour Mr Gravatt, who died aged 22 having overcome dyslexia to become a fourth year medical student at Auckland University.

He died from septic shock associated with meningococcal septicaemia on June 8, about five hours after being admitted to Auckland Hospital.

He had had all the required vaccinations for students at Auckland Medical School, but the school handbook made no specific mention of meningococcal C.

Mr Hopgood was the founding chair of the Paediatric Interest Group of the University of Auckland, a student group set up to promote awareness in children's health.

He has been an active member of the Pasifika Medical Association since 2005.

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